The Mediating E ect of Anxiety in the Relationship between Nightmares and Night Eating Syndrome in Female Undergraduate Students

• Published in: Sleep medicine research pp. 104 - 109
• Main Authors: 이지윤, 서수연
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 대한수면학회 01-12-2018
• Subjects: 정신과학
• ISSN: 2093-9175; 2233-8853

Background and ObjectiveaaA nightmare is an unpleasant dream that awakes individuals and causes anxiety, fear and despair which lead to impulsive behaviors such as night eating. e purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating e ects of depression and anxiety on the relationship be- tween nightmare and night eating syndrome (NES). Both depression and anxiety are strongly rele- vant to a nightmare, which could increase night eating behaviors.
MethodsaaParticipants of the study were 171 female undergraduate students (mean age 21.70 ± 1.76 years). All completed the following questionnaires: Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index, Night Eating Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Insomnia Se- verity Index.
resultsaaResults showed there was a signi cant correlation among nightmare severity and night eating, depression, anxiety and insomnia (p < 0.05). A er controlling for insomnia, anxiety contin- ued to partially mediate the relationship between nightmare severity and NES (n = 171, B = 0.033, 95% CI = 0.001, 0.107). However, depression was not signi cant.
ConclusionsaaIn conclusion, anxiety but not depression may be an important treatment target in treating females who have both nightmares and night eating. KCI Citation Count: 0